Klarinet Archive - Posting 000548.txt from 1995/04

From: Lee Callet <LCallet@-----.COM>
Subj: Artie Shaw
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 1995 17:08:54 -0400

Adam Smith asked why Artie Shaw stopped performing.
It is my understanding that, at the height of his popularity, he just
walked away from the clarinet and his big band. I remember reading that he
said he was sick of having to play the same stuff night after night,
especially his most popular pieces, which as is so often the case, were the
pieces which required the least in the way of creativity, like "Begin the
Beguine" for instance. His audience had no ear for what Artie thought might
be exciting and new; he felt over-commercialized and whorish. I guess it's
like, if you sat in a symphony and had to play the same Beethoven symphony
night after night.....pretty good music but what about Stravinsky, Mahler.
etc. etc. You get the point. Artie had enough money and fame already, plus
some beautiful wife or other (he had several, you know,) and he moved to
Mexico to read, write, and groove. Not such a bad idea. Lee Callet